But…

WHERE do you start?????

It can be extremely overwhelming. Unfortuately, it’s like weightloss…LOL…REALLY easy to get fat messy and VERY hard to lose the weight messies! To get your home in order will require time, patience and diligence.

It is also important to make a plan on how you will get your house organized. Take a walk through the house and make notes of what needs to be done in each room. Once you have made the list, determine priorities (what to do first). I also recommend that you break each area into sections. For example; the bedroom…do not expect to get your whole room done in a day. You will be overwhelmed and if you are a true wannabe, you will give up! Trust me…LOL…I KNOW! So, take your room and divide it into tasks…one day pick up all the items on the floor. The next day clear and organize the dressers. Then closets. And so on.

Starting with the smaller goals will help you see the improvements quickly. This will help you continue the process. Also, as you make more room in your home, think about ways to maximize your storage space. You can add shelves, baskets, organizers, etc.

Finally, make it a goal to clean at least ONE thing each day. Remember, the tortoise beat the hare because he was slow and steady. Slow and steady mixed with a little old fashioned determination WILL help you win the messies to clean race!

While you are cleaning, it is very important to KEEP what you have accomplished organized. So…you will need to MAINTAIN! If you have something that is not in its “home,” take the time to either put it there as soon as you notice it out of place! Or, have a designated area on each floor, like a basket, to put things that need to go to another floor. Then at the end of the day, everything in the box gets put away.

Another idea to help keep the house organized is to have a schedule where each room of the house gets a thorough cleaning one day each week. (If you have children…this is where you can get the kids involved and assign them age appropriate tasks to help you!) It may take awhile to get in the new routine, but if the family works together, it will be MUCH easier. If everyone learns to remember that they need to put their own things away, that will also help. You can have special rewards to encourage the kids. You will be helping them be neater grown ups in the process!

Keep in MInd…

It will take time and a bit of effort to get your home in order. However, it will be well worth it once the house is clean, neat and organized!

Copyright © Thou Shalt Clean!

Well, if you are organizationally challenged then getting your home organized is a chore all in itself. However, for a wannabe keeping it organized can be the biggest challenge!

I have some good news for the determined…with some work and forced cooperation from the rest of the family, it will be easier. It takes time to get used to new habits, but with nagging gentle reminders, everyone will be on their was to the cleaning zone.

One thing that will help keep things running smoothly is to create some daily routines. Even though in a perfect world everything should have a place, it takes a lot of effort to get it there. So staying on top of things is crucial to your new system working.

Here are some creative ways you can keep the whole family involved:

Charts are Us - Create a chart showing all the rooms in your house and all the family members (even the little ones). Each family member can be responsible for making sure a specific area is clutter free each day at a pre-established time. You can provide a basket for each person. They will go through their area with it and throw anything in it that isn’t supposed to be there. Once they have filled their basket, they can start putting things away…and start again if there is a big mess.

The Gathering Place - If you have more than one story, running up and down stairs all day to put things away can get old pretty fast. One way to help is to keep a box at the top and bottom of the stairs where people can put things they find that belong on another floor. At the end of the day, or when the box is full, the things can all be put back where they belong.

Little People Can Organize Too - Even the youngest members of the family can help. Labeling things, at least at first, will help your little people remember where things go. If they are too young to read, try a picture. You can save it from the original package or find one similar in a magazine. At the younger ages, they actually LIKE to help in most cases, so this should be “fun” for them.

Make a Mole Hill out of a Mountain - Yeah, you read it right. LOL! Clothes pile up real fast no matter how much laundry you do, the pile just keeps growing. It has a mind of its own. One way to help is to designate a place for all the dirty clothes. You can label the laundry baskets for white, darks and colors. Everyone can then put their own clothes in the baskets. When a basket is full, it’s time to wash. This is also a great way to teach the little ones colors and organization skills.

Remember, consistency is the key to successfully keeping your home clean. It also requires team effort! So, think of creative ways to get the whole family involved and then not only will you have less of a load to carry…you will help break the cycle of the wannabes!

Copyright © Thou Shalt Clean

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Let me know what ya think…

Lighting is a good place to start with your decorating. However, there are so MANY different types of lighting….you have progress lighting, lamps, vanity lighting, ceiling lights, and there is even something called under cabinet lighting.

No matter what type of illumination you choose for your home, you will want to go with a great lighting company. You will also want to research all of your options. You may even want to read some informative articles on home lighting to find out what will go best with your home and decor.

Eco-Friendly home lighting may be what you are looking for. Whatever type of home lighting you want, take your time, research, and choose wisely.

If you are a wannabe neat freak who is in the family of the organizationally challenged…like yours truly…Purchasing the right lighting can hide many flaws…LOL…especially if you are not as neat as most! Thus, the wannabe way to home lighting will be the road for you!!!

Let me know what you do and PLEASE feel free to share any tips you may have on this subject!

I am sure that if you search your home you will find MANY things that you just don’t need…

Old appliances…all shapes and sizes. When you recycle your old appliances, it doesn’t just reduce things that are just lying around; sometimes you can get some extra cash if you take the time and make the effort to take them to a local recycling center or scrap yard that deals in metal. If you are like me and just don’t have the time to put forth any extra effort there is also the fire station option. Many of them collect aluminum cans for burn units at the local hospitals.

By setting up your own recycling center in your home, it can help reduce your own clutter. You can have bins lined with bags that can hold various recyclables, set up in your garage, basement or utility room. One can be for aluminum cans, another for plastic bottles, and another for paper. Any time someone sees something lying around, instead of just tossing it in the trash…or like in my house making little junk piles…they can throw the items in a bin! When the bins get full, you can either set them out for the city to pick up (if they provide a recycling program), or take them to the local center.

You can make this fun for the kids too. You can have a “Recycle Day.” You can read a book about it to them…have them help decorate the bins, and let them know that they are not only helping keep the house clean, they are helping keep the planet God gave us clean and healthier!

Just about anything in your home can be recycled. There are a TON of Yahoo e-mail groups that are dedicated to “recycling” or “freecycling” like they call it. The lists are organized by local regions. If someone has something they no longer need they can list it to the group and it is claimed on a first come, first served basis. These kinds of lists are great for people who just want to get rid of a few things and don’t want to bother with a garage sale. Plus THEY pick it up and you do not have to worry about it! YEAH!

Listen…even us organizationally challenged people can make a difference for our homes…and out planet! If we start small and work our way up, before we know it, we’ll be the eco-friendly wannabe neat freaks recycling pros! LOL!!! And….have a much neater house!

Empire Today was founded in 1959. It started out as a small family-owned business, and has grown into one of North America’s leading providers of installed Home Furnishings and Home Improvements. With over one million satisfied customers, Empire Today provides superior service, next day installation, warehouse-direct prices, and world-class customer care to more than 50 major metropolitan areas in the United States and Canada.

Empire Today provides superior service and world-class customer care.

What about that ADORABLE “Empire Man?”

This little man appeals to the blue collar worker. The Empire Man represents great value and awesome customer service. He was first introduced in 1977 as a live action character. Today he has evolved into an adorable animated character.

Some of their High Quality Products:

* Empire Carpet
* Hardwood Flooring
* Laminate Flooring
* Ceramic Flooring
* Window Treatments
* Bath & Shower Liners

Empire Today has Award Winning Customer Care and they are dedicated to delivering the highest customer satisfaction.

A few of their most recent acalades…

* 2007 American Business Award Finalist
* 2008 American Business Award Finalist - Best Overall Company
* 2008 American Business Award WINNER - Best Customer Service Organization

So, are you ready to do business with Empire today??

I am sure your answer is yes…so, let me share with you how their process works…

First…Make an appointment for a free, no obligation in-home estimate.

Then…On the day of your appointment a friendly and professional rep will arrive to show you samples, allow you to match the samples with your existing décor, measure and give you a fully installed price to give your home a new look. They will also tell you about Empire Today’s no-payment, no-interest credit options!

It gets better…On the day of your installation, one of their very experienced installers come to your home and install whatever you pre-picked.

After the installation is finished, they will review the job with you and make sure you’re completely satisfied.

Lastly…Within the 2 weeks following your custom installation, an Empire Rep will contact you to make sure you’re completely satisfied!!

As you can see, Empire Today is not only the LEADING provider of Home Furnishings and Home Improvements and award winning customer care…they are also your only logical and affordable choice!

Oh, yeah…and what about that awesome jingle??? “800-588-2300 Empire!”

Now, before you go…CLICK HERE to watch an informative video…

Shelves - Attaching shelves to the walls of the garage can increase your storage space. There are also stand-alone shelving units that are perfect in the garage. They are heavy-duty plastic or metal and can hold the heavier items that are often found in the garage, such as tools and sports equipment.

Pegboard - They can have hooks and baskets attached to allow for storage of a variety of items of all sizes. Brackets can be added to place shelves as needed. They can be completely customized to hold tools - both for the garden and the garage, parts, cleaning supplies, and much more.

Tool hangers - There are a variety of hanging systems to hold tools. There are roller versions that grab the handles and hold them in place. There are also standard hooks that will hold the tool, with the handles hanging down. These will keep the tools out of the way, making things not only neater, but also safer.

Store-Pod - Store-pods are a great addition to your garage storage system. They are waterproof, heavy-duty plastic storage units that are attached to the beams above. They look like a large plastic bag with shelves inside. The front is a clear plastic door that zips closed. They have ventilation slots that help reduce dust and mildew, while still keeping pests out of the things being stored.

Racks - There are specially designed holders for sports equipment and large items. There are some for balls, bike racks and more. There are bike racks that can be mounted on the wall or ceiling.

Cabinets - Cabinets with a work surface are perfect for the garage. You can close the doors and hide any possible clutter. You also have a work area for projects that are too messy or noisy for the house. Many of the cabinets also come with locks, not only to protect your tools, but also to keep small children safe.

Copyright © Thou Shalt Clean

Storage units and organizers are your friend! Today, you can find MANY different patterns and looks for your storage needs.  There are under-the-bed boxes and drawers, bins and wickers, wall or door hanging storage untis, and even closet organizers.  You can mix and match. Get your kid involved by letting them choose the colors and styles for their storage supplies…within YOUR budget, of course!

Once you get your storage supplies, talk to your children about how they would like the room to look. Let them be involved in the organizingof their room.  This will give them a sense of accomplishment when they are done and may even help them KEEP it organized…ROFL!

Getting the laundry organized can even be fun. If you have a boy, you may want to consider setting up a basketball hoop above their open dirty clothes basket.  By attaching one to the wall above the hamper, clean up turns into a game for them.  If you have a girl, you may want to buy a pretty princess laundry basket…or make one together. Be creative and get them involved. THAT is the key!

Use as much as you can in as many ways as you can think of.  Some chairs and benches have a cushion attached to a lid that when lifted up can store stuff.  This is ideal for stuffed animals, dress up, baby dolls, trucks, etc. It also gives your child a nice place to sit. 

Once you get your child’s room organized, find creative ways to help him or her keep it organized.  Keep it fun. Keep them involved. Keep them accountable. And, be sure and REWARD them for their efforts!

Copyright © Thou Shalt Clean

Created as a raising agent used in bakery, baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, has a multitude of household uses. Being only slightly alkaline and gently abrasive, this most versatile of substances is non-toxic and safe for most surfaces/fabrics.

Baking soda is an effective deodorizer. Place an open box on a shelf in the refrigerator to prevent strong odors from spreading to other foods; replace the box about every three months. Do the same in any cramped closet, storage area or basement room. Sprinkle at the bottom of the litter box to minimize offensive smells. Keep your carpets fresh by sprinkling it all over, letting stand for about 15 minutes and then vacuuming.

Baking soda gently cleans a range of hard surfaces. Apply it to your toothbrush, after brushing with toothpaste, to remove stains and whiten teeth. Dissolve four tablespoons in four cups of water and use the mixture to clean a variety of kitchen and bathroom surfaces; rinse and dry. Combine with hot water in a 50/50% mixture for difficult jobs such as cleaning a grimy windshield or headlights.

Baking soda whitens clothes and removes stains. Adding one cup to a load of laundry or ½ cup in a 50/50% mixture with bleach really boosts the effectiveness of your regular detergent. Apply in a paste to remove ring-around-the-collar, mildew and other stubborn stains; let it stand for several minutes, rub in and wash as usual. Remove the ammonia-like smell of urine by soaking fabric diapers or bed linens in a mild warm-water solution.

Among other uses, baking soda will put out a grease or electrical fire (sprinkle it on dry) and keep drains clog-free (once a week, pour ½ cup down the drain and follow with warm water).

Visit Clever Clarissa’s website for tons of Household Tips. Make sure to sign up to Clarissa’s Newsletter for more tips, advice and recommendations.

Do you have a problem with getting your windows clean and streak free? Have you ever washed your windows thinking you had them sparkling clean; only to discover, that when the sun came around, they were still streaked. I have lots of times, till I found microfiber cloths and towels. Other tips I have used before microfiber towels are:

• Using newspapers to dry the windows with, but that left you with carbon on your hands from the print on the paper

• Using some vinegar in the water helps to cut dirt and grime

• Wiping the inside of the windows in one direction and the outside in the opposite direction. This helped me to know which side I had to redo.

• Another trick my mom used to use (on her windows that would get coated with road grime) was to wash her front porch windows with oven cleaner. It was the only way she could get them clean. She lived on a heavily traveled state highway, with lots of trucks and farm traffic. So that left her windows with lots of oil, dirt and exhaust residue on them.

• But my favorite tip was when I discovered microfiber towels and cloths to wash and dry my windows with.

What microfiber towels I like best to use:

I use a wet suede microfiber towel to wash my windows with and a dry waffle weave towel to dry with. You could also use one 16″ x 16″ microfiber terry towel to wash with and one or more 16″ x 16″ terry microfiber towels to dry with, depending on how many windows you need to wash. One 20″ x 40″ waffle weave will dry numerous windows with just this one towel, because of its special built in “pockets” that whisk the moisture away, first into the pocket and then deep into the fabric of the towel, leaving your window dry and streak free. I have heard people tell me they just wash and let air dry.

How the microfiber towel works:

The unique technology of the microfiber blend, gives you a towel that is soft, durable, dirt grabbing and absorbent. The microfiber blend is made up of polyester and polyamide (nylon). The polyester gives it its softness, and the polyamide gives it its absorbency. The “star” wedges gives it its scrubbing ability, with it’s thousands of surface edges. This technology allows the fibers to pick up the dirt and pull it into the towel not just pushing it ahead of itself.

I use hot water to wash my windows with. Rinsing your microfiber towel in hot water causes the fibers to swell, thus forcing the dirt, oil and grime out of the fibers into to your water. Rinse your rag frequently, to keep it clean. Dirty rags can also cause streaking of your windows. Just using hot water and microfiber towels helps to save you money, eliminating window cleaner and paper towels.

Caring for your microfiber towels:

Launder your cloths in hot water if they are especially dirty, microfiber loves hot water. Dry on low heat in the dryer or line dry. Use regular detergent, no bleach or fabric softener. If the microfiber cloths are getting stiff, they may not be clean, or they have been dried at too high of heat; try soaking them in hot water, detergent and OxiClean (a non-bleach stain remover) for ½ hour to help loosen and remove dirt deep within the fibers.

Written by Marcia Loofboro, believer in chemical free cleaning and owner of http://www.MerryMicrofiber.com home of affordable, dirt grabbing microfiber towels, cloths, mitts, sponges and mops.

There are a variety of vinegars on the market - from plain distilled white vinegar to vinegars made from fruit, herbs, cider, malt and wine. All of them are somewhat corrosive, with a level of acidity between 4% and 6%; this is why they are sold in glass or plastic containers with cork or other corrosion-proof tops. Since they contain vinegar and are acidic, marinades, vinaigrettes and pickles should be mixed in glass, enamel or stainless steel vessels and kept well away from copper, zinc, aluminum, iron and galvanized metal.

Distilled white vinegar, based on dilute distilled alcohol fermented to a 4% acetic acid count, is an effectual inexpensive household cleaner and stain remover. Being acid (with a pH below 7), it will NOT remove the majority of stains which are caused by acid substances (oils, fats, etc.). Vinegar is very effective, however, against stains caused alkaline substances such as soap, mustard, ketchup, coffee, tea, beer, gum, glue, calcium, rust, grass, etc.

Only distilled white vinegar should be employed for household uses, as the other varieties of vinegars could stain what you want to clean. Make use of the vinegar at full strength to absorb offensive odors in a room or to remove tannin build-up from teapots and coffeemakers. Mix it 50/50 with water to take out salt from the carpeting in your car after winter. Add a small quantity to water when rinsing your fine china and glassware, machine-washing your clothes, cleaning your wood floors. You should never use vinegar on cotton, linen or acetate.

Visit Clever Clarissa’s website for tons of Household Tips. Make sure to sign up to Clarissa’s Newsletter for more tips, advice and recommendations.

Time to clean up your home. Out with the old. In with the new. Get rid of the dust and clutter for a healthier, fresher environment.

Spring Cleaning need not be a boring chore. It can be fun. Take it as a creative break. As a kid, I loved wearing a pair of soapy wet rags as slippers and sliding around the home, cleaning the floor as I went, to my mom’s horror.

Okay, that might not be a good idea. The chances of slipping and getting into really nasty, even life-threatening accidents are high if you try sliding around on rags. Getting paralyzed because of fall just isn’t worth it.

There are other things you can do though.

These 5 Spring Cleaning tips help you get organized, making it easier and more pleasant to clean your home.

1. File and Organize.
Before you even begin, take stock of the mess around you. Are newspapers all over the floor? Are magazines lying around? Do you have sheets of papers as in bills, flyers and letters lying around on tables or other surfaces?

Get the papers organized in a something that is both decorative and functional. Letters and bills can go into decorative letter holders, or into files hidden out of sight. Magazine racks, good-looking ones, that is, are wonderful for keeping your newspapers as well as magazines. The key thing is to train everyone in the household to put things where they belong. Magazines and newspapers go into the rack or else.. come up with a deterrent to motivate them.

Don’t you hate it when halfway through cleaning the bedroom, you need something and you have to go all the way to the store room to get it? Get a pail and put everything you need for your spring cleaning in it. Detergents, soaps, brushes, spare gloves, polish, the works. Then carry that around with you as you go from room to room.

2. Wear Gloves
Protect your hands as you clean your home. Wear gloves to keep the irritating detergents away. Dry cracked skin can be avoided if you remember to wear gloves throughout your cleaning mission.

3. Work from top down.
Think of gravity. The dust you brush off higher surfaces will end up on the lower surfaces. Clean the tops of cupboards, the lights and everything high up first, move on to the lower furnishings and when everything else is done, then tackle the floor.

4. Flowers and Fragrance
Once the house is all cleaned up, brighten your home with vases of cut flowers. Reward yourself with long lasting flowers that are in season.

5. Makeover
Give your home a makeover with new bedsheets, curtains, floor mats and towels. The bedding dresses up the bedrooms. Curtains dress up every room. Towels and shower curtains give your bathroom a makeover and floor mats add the finishing touches. Reward yourself with a gorgeous new home now that you have decluttered, cleaned and organized everything.

Here’s where you can get the necessary magazine racks to tidy your home. This article 7 Spring Cleaning Tips was written for http://www.home-decor-ideas.com the author’s home and garden and living it up site.

Mildew is a fungus commonly found both inside and outside the home. It can attach itself to a wide range of surfaces including aluminum siding, asphalt tiling, concrete, wood, paint, ceramics, fabrics made from natural fibers, leather, vinyl and paper. Some materials are resistant to mildew: enamel, plastic, fabric made from synthetic fibers or treated with a mildew-resistant finish, commercial paste for paper and fabric wall coverings, mildew-resistant paint (keep well away from children!) and others.

Mildew grows in warm, humid environments (75-85 degrees F). The best way to prevent it is to get rid of the dampness by removing the source of moisture, ventilating the area adequately and/or drying the air. Cleanliness is of the utmost importance since soil and greasy films such as are found in the kitchen and bathroom, are a source of food for the mildew.

Chlorine bleach is the very best antidote, to be used with caution since it is highly corrosive. Hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol and household detergents are gentler and may well be effective. Some cases are hopeless and you will have no choice but to throw away the severely mildewed items.

How to Get Rid of Mildew: It’s as Easy as 1, 2, 3

• Expose the affected area to sunshine or artificial lighting.
• Introduce fresh air and promote circulation (if necessary, use a fan to increase air movement).
• If necessary, turn-up the heat or dry the affected area with a hair dryer.
• Remove the mildew with a soft cloth, a brush or a broom (do this out-of-doors, if possible, to avoid scattering mildew spores and dust in the house) and finish with a vacuum cleaner.
• Clean the area using a household cleaning agent adapted to the material affected - i.e., saddle soap for leather, all-purpose cleaner for walls or floors, laundry detergent for apparel, rug shampoo for carpeting, etc.
• If the previous measure is insufficient, apply a mixture of 1 part hydrogen peroxide and 2 parts water. For leather, use 1 part rubbing alcohol to 1 part of water.
• If the previous measure is insufficient, apply a mixture of chlorine bleach and water (use as weak a mixture as possible).
• Rinse well and dry thoroughly. Use a room air freshener or deodorizer if a musty smell persists.

Visit Clever Clarissa’s website for tons of Household Tips. Make sure to sign up to Clarissa’s Newsletter for more tips, advice and recommendations

Spring is in the air! It’s still chilly outside, but the glimpses of sunshine and warmer days are inspiring me to get out my cleaning supplies and begin my spring cleaning.

Every time I am in the middle of cleaning I think of other things I need to get around to doing and then forget about them later. I decided to sit down and make an exhaustive spring cleaning checklist. My list details every cleaning task I could think of, everything I hope to get around to taking care of this spring.

By no means, don’t think that you have to complete everything on this list. If you are a stay-at-home mom, you can probably comfortably accomplish at least two to three of these tasks a week. Get your kids involved and have them help!

Some days I won’t do any cleaning, and other days I might accomplish two or three of my spring cleaning tasks. If you work outside the home, it’s easy to let some of the cleaning go, but if you try to work in one or two small cleaning jobs on the weekend, you will be proud of your accomplishments. It’s amazing how cleaning just one small area of your house can make your whole day and make you feel like you got something done.

Kitchen

___ Clean Out And Organize Refrigerator
___ Clean Inside Of And Under Stove
___ Clean Microwave
___ Clean Toaster Oven
___ Clean And Organize Pantry
___ Clean And Organize Freezer
___ Wipe Down Inside And Outside Of Kitchen Cupboards

Bedrooms

___ Wash Or Dryclean Bedspreads
___ Organize/Purge Master Bedroom Closet
___ Organize/Purge Children’s Closets
___ Organize/Purge Children’s Toys

General

___ Wipe Down All Doors; Clean Door Handles & Moldings
___ Wipe Off Window Sills
___ Clean Inside Of Windows
___ Wash Or Dryclean Curtains
___ Dust Mini-Blinds
___ Clean Sliding Glass Doors Inside And Out
___ Remove Marks From Walls; Apply Touch Up Paint
___ Clean Wall Moldings
___ Dust Ceiling Fans
___ Dust Picture Frames
___ Dust Lamp Shades
___ Steam Clean Carpets
___ Steam Clean Furniture
___ Wash Out Wastebaskets
___ Dust Artificial Plants
___ Change Batteries In Smoke Detectors
___ Organize Linen Closet
___ Wipe Down And Clean Under Washing Machine And Dryer

Outside

___ Clean Up Flower Beds
___ Finish Raking Leaves
___ Prepare Planters For Planting
___ Clean And Fill Water Fountains
___ Straighten Storage Shed
___ Hose Down Patio
___ Clean Patio Furniture
___ Clean Windows On Outside
___ Inspect And Repair Window Screens
___ Wash Out Garbage Cans
___ Clean Barbecue

About the Author: Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom who is the author of What’s for Dinner?, an e-cookbook containing more than 250 quick easy dinner ideas. For more recipes, gardening, organizing tips, home decorating, holiday hints, and more, visit Creative Homemaking at http://www.creativehomemaking.com.

The first step is to create a realistic analysis of what is being stored. I cannot tell you how week after week it appears as though the same slacks, shirts, skirts and dresses, make it to the cleaners or laundry service. Let’s be realistic, there are only seven days in the week so please explain why your precious closet space, the guest room closet and the hall closet are stuffed with enough content to robe an entire village? It is common that when we tire of our current choices, items do not fit anymore, or they are just not up to date with the current fashion trend we go out and buy something new. Make space for these new things!

If you are not using it, if it no longer fits, if it is no longer fashionable…GET RID OF IT! Your trash can be someone else’s treasure!

Sort, sort, and then sort! Every six months step in and reevaluate your arrangement. You should have items you want to keep, items that will be discarded because they are of no use to you and items that you will giveaway. **story with a tip: I have a friend who had gastric bypass surgery and as a result was rapidly losing a lot of weight. At this rate, it was impossible to afford a new wardrobe every three to four weeks. A few of her close friends decided that once a month as they went through their closet they would make a pile for her of clothes they no longer needed. A great opportunity for my friend to update her wardrobe for free and everyone’s closet stayed more organized with the constant rotation.

The second step is to conceive a plan on how the space will be transformed setting a more practical approach for your storage needs.

- Do you have enough shelves?

- Would belt racks help?

- Are most of your clothes short hanging and occupying only half the height?

- Would a shoe rack be ideal for the other half, maybe cubbies for handbags, an extra hang rod or even more drawers for accessories?

Your accumulation of unnecessary stuff along with disorganization eventually becomes overwhelming. Piles and stuffed closets make it very frustrating to find your favorites. Only you can determine which key elements if implemented into your design would bring forth a more positive approach at the start of your day.

The third step is to dive in and have fun! Now that you have sorted what you are keeping, and created a lay out to suit your need, it’s time to schedule the time to put all of this into play. Don’t rearrange things to the point where your space becomes foreign to you. Keep things comfortable. The key is to maintain simplicity. You want to have your wardrobe garments and accessories neat and easy to access. Get your favorite music cd out; it’s time to turn this closet out!

About the Author: Dorothy Mastorakos is offering guides and tips on revitalizing your home and self through practical methods, which offer balance and tranquility. Find more free tips & tricks at http://www.dornina.com